Wilcoxons compete at state tennis tourney

Gallia Academy’s Pierce Wilcoxon competes at first singles during a match against Jackson earlier this season.

Paul Boggs/OVP Sports

MASON, Ohio — At least the Wilcoxon siblings reached their goal, and it was a fun ride while it lasted.

That’s because Gallia Academy’s Adriana and Pierce Wilcoxon competed in the Division II state doubles tennis tournament on Friday, held outdoors at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.

The third and final qualifier from the Southeast-East District tournament at Ohio University, the Wilcoxons lost their only match in the state meet — 6-0, 6-1 to seniors Devesh Modi and Maddox McGrae of Gates Mills Hawken.

Thus, after earning a second chance to qualify for the state tournament, Friday’s first-round contest marked the final for Adriana Wilcoxon, who is now a graduated GAHS senior.

Pierce Wilcoxon completed his sophomore season.

The Wilcoxons, being the only doubles team state representatives from the Southeast District, concluded their careers as a unit having won 13 postseason matches.

They went a perfect 10-for-10 in the Division II sectional tournament, then won three matches in their two trips as the top-seeded squad in the district doubles event.

Their last win — a 7-6 (7-4 tiebreaker) 6-2 sweep a week ago in Athens over East Liverpool’s Jonathan and Chris Montgomery — was by far the most significant.

Ten days ago, the Wilcoxons —the district doubles top seed for the second consecutive season — won their quarterfinal match before losing in three sets to Cambridge’s Clay McCauley and Andrew Eddy in the semifinals.

McCauley and Eddy, who captured the district doubles championship, automatically secured a state tournament berth by advancing to the district title match.

It was also initially understood that the Wilcoxons were eliminated from the tournament, since it was originally believed that only two state qualifiers emerged from the Southeast-East District.

However, it was discovered last Monday that the Southeast-East was supposed to send three qualifiers to the state — and so the Wilcoxons and Montgomerys got another opportunity last Tuesday.

And, Adriana and Pierce — playing outdoors this time as opposed to Saturday’s all-day indoor session, played well and gained the straight-set sweep.

Modi and McGrae gained a berth by finishing as the Northeast District’s runner-up, as the Northeast and Southwest districts sent four qualifiers apiece.

The Southeast-East, along with the Northwest District, advanced three each — while only two teams qualified from the Central District.

On the singles side, the Southeast-East’s three state qualifiers — senior Jason Prince of Fairland, freshman Drew Jackson of Wheelersburg and senior Jack Hirschfield of Marietta — all lost their first-round matches in straight sets.

Paul Boggs can be reached at 740-446-2342, ext. 2106

Gallia Academy’s Pierce Wilcoxon competes at first singles during a match against Jackson earlier this season.

http://mydailysentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_5.26-GA-Pierce.jpgGallia Academy’s Pierce Wilcoxon competes at first singles during a match against Jackson earlier this season. Paul Boggs/OVP Sports